Biotic:
* Definition: Refers to all the living organisms within an ecosystem.
* Examples: Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, protists.
* Characteristics:
* Possess life (grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli).
* Have a complex organization (cells, tissues, organs).
* Require energy and nutrients for survival.
* Interact with each other (competition, predation, symbiosis).
Abiotic:
* Definition: Refers to the non-living components of an ecosystem.
* Examples: Sunlight, water, temperature, soil, rocks, air.
* Characteristics:
* Do not possess life (don't grow, reproduce, or respond to stimuli).
* Can be physical or chemical in nature.
* Influence the distribution and abundance of living organisms.
The difference in a nutshell:
* Biotic factors are alive, while abiotic factors are not.
How they interact:
Biotic and abiotic factors are interconnected and influence each other within an ecosystem. For example:
* Sunlight (abiotic) is necessary for plants (biotic) to perform photosynthesis.
* Temperature (abiotic) affects the rate of plant growth (biotic).
* The presence of predators (biotic) can influence the distribution of prey (biotic).
Understanding the difference between biotic and abiotic factors is crucial for understanding the complexities of ecosystems and how living organisms interact with their environment.